GREAT VICTORY

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 7

GREAT VICTORY

U.S. ELECTION DEMOCRATS’ TRIUMPH 1 PROBLEM FOR PARTY .CONFLICTING ELEMENTS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) New York, November 7. Recapitulation of the election results heartened Mr Roosevelt to-day as he began preparations to extend the “new deal.” The Democratic sweep engulfing outstanding Republican foes of the Administration gained nine Senate seats, increasing the Democrats’ representation to 69. In the Lower House the Democrats more than held their own with the indications that the party will have 313 of the 435 seats.

The Democrats gained complete control with the election of governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives in 23 states. The results constituted not only an astonishing popular endorsement of the “new deal,” but definite repudiation of the extremely conservative Republican element. Senator Reed (Pennsylvania), one of the outstanding critics of Mr Roosevelt’s policies, failed to secure reelection.

Democratic leaders are jubilant at Mr Upton Sinclair’s defeat in the. contest for the Governorship of California on the grounds that it purges the party of radicals.

A message from St. Paul (Minnesota) states that the Farmer-Labour Party Governor, Mr Lloyd B. Olson, said tonight that he had the mandate from the people of Minnesota to put into effect its far-flung public ownership programme designed to achieve a cooperative commonwealth. The Republican party, stated the Governor as he viewed his increasing plurality of 50,000 in Tuesday’s election, had made the Farmer-Labour Party’s platform a challenge which he accepted. With the convening of the State Legislature in January, Mr Olson said, the party would do its utmost to carry out its 16-plank platform, which declared that capitalism had failed and that only complete reorganization of the social structure into a co-operative commonwealth would bring economic security and prevent a prolonged period of further suffering among the people. State of the Parties. Associated Press returns for the House of Representatives at 9 a.m. today showed that the elected were as follows:— Democrats 221 Republicans 62 Farmer-Labourites 1 Progressive 3 Doubtful seats 148 The elections have settled several political questions with emphasis, but have left several others potentially of far greater significance wholly untouched. Candidates of almost every conceivable twist of opinion have been swept into office on the Democratic ticket, and their collective mental processes range from the inner shrine of conservatism to the borders of sheer radicalism. Political students ask: Can this party, which has come so near to taking the place of both the old parties in the conduct of government, remain one party under the tightening strain of these years of constant change? If. it does remain one party, can the dominance of one wing over others be avoided and which will become the controlling element? If it does not remain one party is the long foreseen realignment of political groups now in prospect? Problem for Mr Roosevelt.

These questions point directly towards 1936 and must receive the earnest consideration of Mr Roosevelt between now and the time when in all human probability he will seek re-election. Further election violence took four lives, two being shot in. Kentucky and one in Pennsylvania, while one was fatally stabbed in Missouri.